This is perhaps a post for the music ministry leaders. How do you select songs for Sunday? For many of us, the Service theme is selected for us and serves as a framework for the musical canvas. Perhaps it is set by the readings for the day. Perhaps it is set by the Pastor or Worship Team. So, getting back to the blank canvas, how do you metaphorically select the brushes, paints, and painting style? How do you select the perfect music?Here is my thought process.
Intro or Opening. I try to make this one upbeat. After all, it is a joyful occasion that brings us here, no? Since this is the opening song, the theme usually has not been set at this point. So I’ll aim for themes such as Gathering, Community, God’s People, Coming to God’s Table, etc.
Psalm. If there is a Psalm passage selected for the day, this is an easy one. As we all know the Psalms were most likely written for music, and they have lent themselves quite well to music over the ages. There must be thousands of Psalm songs to choose from. I’ll let the content of the Psalm dictate the style of music. If it is a joyous Psalm (such as Psalm 40 “Sing a new song!”, Psalm 118, etc.), I’ll select a song and set the style that reflects the joy and beauty. If it is reflective (Psalm 23, etc.), I’ll aim for a flowing piece.
Middle Songs. This is the time to be reflective and meditative. I’ll aim for songs where the Service theme is clearly reflected in the Chorus or Refrain. Simple refrains, even ones with repetition, seem to work best.
Closing or Journey Song. I also try to have an upbeat song here. It is the end of the Service, not the best time to be reflective or meditative. I’ll target themes such as “Working in God’s Vineyard”, “Proclaiming God’s Word”, “Walking with Christ”, etc.
This is just one approach of many, I am sure. How do you or your music ministry team approach Song Selection?
1 comments Labels: Leaders, Music Ministry, Song Selection, Worship Leaders
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1 comments to "Song Selection in Music Ministry"
April 14, 2010 at 7:26 PM
I occasionally help plan the student liturgy at my church. Usually, it's a group of volunteers that meet after on of the Sunday masses.
We begin with reading through the First Reading and the Gospel (we omit the Second Reading). We then reflect and pray on the readings, and discuss the messages coming from them.
After we're done analyzing and praying over the readings, we go to the hymn books. We use Gather and Spirit & Song. Usually we'll try to stick to songs that match up really well with the readings. From there, we pretty much follow the same format as you, Paul, with more upbeat songs for the entrance and journey selections, with more meditative songs in the middle. Also, the volunteer team typically tries to pick songs that the choir is fairly familiar with.
God Bless! :)
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